23
Broaden Your Cultural Perspective

MORE THAN EVER before, the saying “It’s a small world” rings true when it comes to being globally connected. Whether in politics, environmental issues, military conflicts, technology, or the economy, there is a growing awareness that what’s going on in other parts of the world can have a very real and immediate impact on our lives. But despite the realization that we are a global community, the lens through which we view other people, their customs, and their ways of life is still rather limited. For instance, many of us proclaim to celebrate cultural diversity with only superficial knowledge of the cultures being celebrated. From this standpoint, our perspective is myopic and may in turn be a reason for regret.

The time is ripe to broaden our perspective on cultural diversity as part of our evolution as world citizens. While this can be done in part by travel or study abroad, it is also as simple as taking the initiative to expand our awareness of the diverse cultural world that is closer to home. For instance, two colleagues of mine, Joe and Susie, have a long-standing ritual with a group of their friends from different cultural backgrounds where they celebrate each other’s traditions and holidays together throughout the year. This includes learning more about their different religious faiths and even visiting each other’s respective places of worship.

As an outgrowth of this process, last year Joe and Susie decided to hold an “international potluck” night where all of their friends brought food dishes that were indicative of their cultural heritages. They also were asked to prepare a list of interesting facts about their cultures of origin on note cards that they put next to their dishes. By the end of the evening, the group realized that more than twenty different cultures were represented among them and that they had all learned something new from the experience.

The international potluck was such a success that everyone in attendance agreed to make it a rotating monthly event where the host family got to pick the cultural theme and was responsible for coming up with a creative cultural dining and learning experience for the group. In just the first year, Joe, Susie, and their friends tasted ethnic foods from India, Korea, Brazil, Sweden, the Middle East, Ghana, Croatia, Morocco, Belgium, Jamaica, Bangladesh, and Singapore. They also learned songs, dances, folklore, history, and other interesting facts from each of these unique cultures.

Joe and Susie’s ongoing practice of sharing their cultural customs and holidays with their friends continues to yield positive results: more education, less ignorance, a renewed appreciation for each other’s differences, and lots of fun. It has also taken their friendships to a much higher level and has been enlightening for adults and children alike.

Don’t go through life with blinders on. Avoid the regret of cultural closed-mindedness by forming your own opinions about other cultures through direct observation and experience instead of reliance on stereotypes and myths. Get curious and take the time to see others from a different point of view. In addition, recognize that the way you perceive cultural differences is only one viewpoint. Broaden your cultural perspective and appreciate the beauty of being different.

Broaden your
cultural perspective
and appreciate
the beauty of
being different.

∼ How will you broaden your cultural perspective?

∼ What will you do to learn more about the culturally diverse people around you?